Creating zero waste in an unexpected place: the hair care industry
Creating a green career out of thin air? That’s bananas! Literally. Ciara Imani May is the CEO of the company Rebundle, a hair extensions brand made out of the fiber found in banana trees. What started as a quest to live a zero waste lifestyle and find a career through which Imani May could live her values, has led to a consumer product that solves an environmental problem — and a health issue too. In this episode of Degrees Season 6: How to Green Your Job, join us as we take a trip down memory lane with Ciara Imani May to understand how she came up with her plant-based idea and transformed it into a product that’s positively impacting people and the planet. And while entrepreneurship might not be the path for everyone, her story shows that being values-driven and persistent can help you be the green change you want to see.
Degrees: Real talk about planet-saving careers · Yesh Pavlik Slenk, Ciara Imani May
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Show Notes
Ciara Imani May is the founder of Rebundle, the first U.S.-made, plant-based hair extensions brand on a mission to provide more comfort and less waste through eco-friendly and non-toxic hair extensions. The idea for Rebundle sparked in 2019 when Ciara suffered from one too many itchy scalps from wearing braids made from plastic synthetic hair. In researching alternatives, Ciara came to understand that banana fibers could provide a sustainable option. That breakthrough led to Rebundle’s first product, braidbetter.
Resources from this episode:
- Check out the Rebundle website to learn more about the ReGen Hair Fiber™ that May’s company created.
- Follow Rebundle on social media: Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter)
- Learn about Rebundle’s recycling partner Terracycle, a company helping Rebundle customer’s recycle their old plastic-based hair extensions.
- Read this article for more about Ciara’s venture capital funding journey.
- Learn about the USDA’s BioPreferred program. Rebundle’s braidBetter is the first hair extensions product to receive the certification.
If you liked this episode, you’ll love these:
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Who makes Degrees?
Degrees: Real talk about planet-saving careers is presented by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Yesh Pavlik Slenk is our host. Amy Morse is EDF’s producer. Podcast Allies is our production company. Ayo Oti researched and produced this episode. Mia Lobel is our story editor. Production manager Andrew Parrella edited this episode. Editing assistance on this episode from executive producer Elaine Appleton Grant. Our music is Shame, Shame, Shame from Yesh’s favorite band, Lake Street Dive.
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